Suspect told woman he would hex her if she talked, Haltom City police report

A curandero accused of sexual assault told a woman suffering from migraines that he would hex her if she told anyone what he did to her while she was in his exam room, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained Friday.

The woman said she sought out a curandero (a spiritual healer) at an office in the 4000 block of Northeast 28th Street in Haltom City after going to one in Fort Worth who told her was hexed and he could not help her.

At the Haltom City office, she met a man who told her to call him “the Master,” who was later identified as Mario Alexander Gil, the affidavit said. Gil presented himself as someone with supernatural powers who could heal her or cause her harm, according to the affidavit.

The woman paid Gil $500 cash on each of four visits. Each time, Gil took the woman to an exam room and told her to remove all her clothes. Initially she refused but took off everything besides her bra and shirt, the affidavit said. She and Gil were alone in the room.

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On the fourth visit, Gil sexually assaulted her and promised to place a hex on her that would make her feel even worse than she did when she came in if she ever told anyone what happened, the affidavit said. The woman told police that she hesitated to pursue charges against Gil until she was encouraged by her spouse and mother to report what had happened to the police, the affidavit said.

The victim is immersed in a culture with a long history of belief in Santeria and has legitimate fear of “the Master,” police said.

Police assembled two photo lineups with a photograph of Gil in each one, and each time the woman picked out Gil’s photo, the affidavit said.

Gil, 42, was arrested July 25 on a suspicion of a sexual assault charge, according to a complaint filed with the Tarrant County district clerk’s office. Gil was released from jail after posting a $50,000 bond, court documents showed.

Gil is believed to be a Colombian national and investigators are trying to determine his immigration status, police said.

“We want to make sure there are no other victims, especially no juvenile victims,” Detective M. Limones said. “We want people to not be afraid to talk to us.”